Women and Doctors - Softcover

Smith, John M.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 044050533X ISBN 13: 9780440505334

Publisher: Dell, 1993

Synopsis

An indictment of the Ob/Gyn medical specialty exposes the sexism, mistreatment, and mercenary values of the profession and explains why only women should provide women's health care. Reprint.

About this title

From Kirkus Reviews

Why men have no business being gynecologists--or so the author says--and what women can do to get proper health care. Smith, himself a gynecologist, draws on his own experiences in asserting that men are too often sexist and bring to the doctor-patient relationship their prejudices against women and their need to dominate. Smith finds, in fact, that ``insensitivity, greed, and the arrogance of power'' are commonplace among physicians in general. In his attempt to call attention to the situation and to empower women to deal with it, Smith offers some memorable one-liners: ``If you send a sexist to medical school, you can only wind up with a sexist doctor''; ``The more times a woman consults a gynecologist, the more likely she is to experience abuse.'' He describes the major problems created by such gender bias and relates stories of individual patients who have come to harm at the hands of gynecologists-- some well intentioned, others simply incompetent. Moving on, Smith reveals how physicians are trained, licensed, and given hospital privileges, and offers advice on how to select the right health-care provider (not necessarily an M.D.) and how to develop a good relationship with that person. He also includes a valuable handbook on common gynecological problems, aimed at helping women understand afflictions, and ask the important questions--i.e., to participate intelligently in decision-making about their own medical treatment. Finally, Smith, who sees the attitudes and behaviors of physicians as central to the problems of our health- care system, offers his own ideas about restructuring health care in the US. A provocative and forceful call for change, certain to enrage male gynecologists while empowering their patients. -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From Library Journal

Smith's book is just one of several recent titles that question America's healthcare practices (see Walt Bogdonich's The Great White Lie , LJ 11/15/91, and Nancy Wainer Cohen's Open Season , LJ 11/1/91). Like Cohen, Smith questions the appropriateness of males as gynecologists, claiming that a male cannot empathize with, or even fully understand, a female patient's problems. He says a male gynecologist is too quick to operate, suggesting that a female physician would make different, and perhaps better, decisions. He also questions a male doctor's reasons for choosing the field of gynecology. Interestingly, Smith himself is both male and a gynecologist. He draws heavily on his own experience for shocking anecdotes, but he weakens his arguments by his failure to document appropriately when he uses outside sources. However, he does offer a helpful section covering the most common gynecological problems and outlining treatment options. He also discusses questions a patient should ask her doctor. An interesting book, but not a necessary purchase.
- KellyJo Houtz Parish, Univ. of Missouri-Kansas City Sch. of Medicine Lib.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Dell
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 044050533X
• ISBN 13: 9780440505334
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 272